Chris Coghlan could battle shoulder injury all season

CINCINNATI — Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan was out of the lineup Friday, two days after taking himself out of a game due to pain in his right shoulder.

And it appears the shoulder strain is something that Coghlan could be dealing with all season long.

"I have never dealt with this," Coghlan said. "Every day is different."

Coghlan said he had four good days before Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, when he took himself out in the seventh inning.

"I know I have never had to take myself out of a lineup in my career in any sport I have played in my life. There was definitely something, a sharp pain that I have not felt before," Coghlan said.

Coghlan spent the offseason recovering from knee surgery which limited his throwing, and the pain began early in spring training and has continued to flare up.

"We will have to deal with that for a while, on a day-to-day basis," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said.

Don't expect Coghlan to play in a day game after a night game, which was the situation Wednesday.

"We are pretty sure that put a lot of pressure on his shoulder," Rodriguez said.

Coghlan had an MRI done on Thursday and said there is no structural damage.

"It just continues to have the same symptoms I have had since spring. I talked to the doctor and he said just play as I can tolerate," Coghlan said. Coghlan said he wants to avoid the disabled list. "We have a long way to go. That is why I have to monitor it," he said.

DILEMMA AT THIRD: Wes Helms made his fourth start of the season at third Friday, something Rodriguez has been forced to do since Donnie Murphy's average has slipped to .105, earning him a spot on the bench.

"When a lefty comes in and you don't see yourself in the lineup it kind of hits a little bit," Murphy said. "But [Rodriguez] is the one who makes the decisions and I understand. As long as we keep winning, that is all I care about."

When Matt Dominguez failed to win the job in the spring, the plan was to platoon Murphy and Emilio Bonifacio at third.

But with Bonifacio needed in the outfield to replace Logan Morrison and Murphy slumping at the plate, Rodriguez has turned to Greg Dobbs and Helms.

"I have to go with who we have on the mound, if I need more offense or defense. So far my decision is based on that, and every day is different," Rodriguez said.

"What concerns me is every time I play Wes or Dobbs, I am taking them out from their comfort zone, from their role. I feel very confident when I have Dobbs and Wes late in the game on the bench. When I have to start them then late in the game I have to find other sources to fill out that role," Rodriguez said.

FAMILIAR FACE: Former Marlins Jeremy Hermida was in the Reds lineup Friday.

Hermida, who was a first-round pick by the Marlins in 2002, was a Marlins starter in right field for four seasons through 2009 before he was traded to the Red Sox. After hitting .203 for Boston, he was released in August and picked up by Oakland in September and became a free agent in October.

"It is good to see they are doing well and good to have a chance to see them," Hermida said about facing his old team.

One player he came up with and has stayed in touch with is Josh Johnson, who will start Saturday for the Marlins.

Hermida said he is not surprised Johnson has been so dominant this season.

"I think he has shown over the last couple years that when he is healthy he is one of the top pitchers in the league," Hermida said.

Hermida started this season in the minors on the same Triple-A team as former Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

"He has been throwing well down there," Hermida said about Willis, who is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA in four starts. "I have seen him in his day when he was on and finished second in the Cy Young [vote]. Hopefully he can get back to that form and I am definitely rooting for him."